Who is on my Side

Philadelphia Baptist Church

8/22/2007 Wednesday

Who is on My Side?

Job 19:1–29

For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:

Introduction: Have you ever felt yourself trapped by life, believing it cannot get any worse? Job was there! His wealth was demolished, his children were struck dead, and even his own body was afflicted with disease and unbearable pain. He believed that the only thing left for him was to die (19:8–9). With life, his friends, and (seemingly) God against him, Job was questioning, “Who is on my side?” We often ask the same thing. The answer is found in God’s redemptive work in Job’s life, and ultimately in Jesus Christ.

1. Job Sunk into the Pit of Humiliation (19:1–22). Job’s friends attributed Job’s suffering to his sin, even accusing him of not knowing God (18:21)! As Job argued, he constantly proved himself righteous. However, neither logic, nor scoring debating points against his human opposition brought any comfort to Job while God remained “silent” in the face of his suffering. We can feel the intensity of his pain as he vividly describes his feelings of being entangled by a net, walled in by a fence, set on a dark path, stripped of his crown, broken into rubble, uprooted like a tree, counted as an enemy and under siege by armies (19:9–22). Job plummeted to the depths. As low as he had thought he could fall, now Job found that he had fallen even lower!

2. Job Ascended to the Pinnacle of Faith (19:23–29). When Job hit the bottom, he slowly and painfully looked up. Perhaps for the first time he had to deal with the shock that he may not live to see himself cleared of all the charges of his friends. Thus he looked ahead. He reached the very depths of despair, and then he cried: “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:” (19:25–26). In these words we see:

A. Conviction. Despite all his troubles, Job said, “I know …” In that moment, Job joined with Isaiah in seeing the Lord sitting on a throne (Isaiah 6:1). In his most depressed moments he had questioned if there was any life after death (14:1–2). But here, when he was even more depressed, he was convicted and convinced of the truth!

B. Salvation. Job saw his Savior. The word “redeemer” is the Hebrew word goel meaning “vindicator.” This was the nearest next of kin whose duty it was to undertake the cause of his kinsman and defend him. Job saw in heaven that there was One who would acquit him of all charges. Earlier Job has looked for a “mediator” who would plead his case. Now he knows he cannot stand before God in his own righteousness.

His blameless behavior is not enough to redeem him. A brother is his only hope. There is a brother who is willing to shed his blood in order to vindicate Job in the future. Dimly but surely he looks to and sees the atoning work of Christ. But his eyes of faith remain open, and he sees yet more. “He shall stand at last on the earth”—His vindicator, his hope, will come in flesh and blood. He will accomplish what Job’s friends have failed to do; he will bring comfort and peace. Here the incarnate Christ will come and work that work of grace living and dying to redeem His people.

C. Eternity. “yet in my flesh shall I see God:” Job knew that he would live beyond the grave. Job saw his future linked to a mediator, between God and man. He saw, however dimly, Jesus, incarnate, atoning, and resurrected.

Conclusion: In Jesus we find the complete fulfillment of what dawned upon Job in the midst of his darkness, and which shone as a light of hope and confidence. The One who ever lives came into our earthly life, stood upon the dust for us, and argued our case on the earth by taking our place, fulfilling our roles (Heb. 7:1–25). He even died our death and was raised from the dead and argues now our case in the courts of heaven. Are you in despair today? Do you feel like you’ve hit rock bottom? Jesus Christ, the Redeemer, lives!